A practical encounter with model-based optimum design of wastewater treatment systems – applied to High Purity Oxygen aeration

A new model-based software tool for the design and cost assessment of wastewater treatment plants has been developed. HPO Solver software is designed with the goal of providing improved capability for process evaluation to a range of users: from the academic professional to the sales technician. With that aim, the tool combines the complex biological models used by scientists with engineering models of aeration and solids separation technologies, empirical models and economic databases appropriate to each of the plant elements. This combination of models has been linked to advanced mathematical algorithms, provided with default parameter values based on expert experience, and assembled within user-friendly software. Configured as a complement to existing dynamic simulation platforms, this tool provides a steady-state solution for design and cost assessment of a wastewater treatment plant. The current version of the tool includes equalization and bioreactor tanks, solids separation systems, aeration devices, instrumentation, sludge production, engineering, and chemical dosing. Three real case studies are presented to give an overview of the scope of the HPO Solver software tool. The software is under testing and calibration, and is anticipated to become a valuable tool for efficient and fast design tailored to the specific case requirements. It can be used for economic evaluation of different technological alternatives to support engineering and sales decisions.